Many aircraft owners explore dry leasing as a way to offset the high fixed costs associated with ownership. While increased utilization can improve cost-per-hour efficiency and help keep the aircraft mechanically active, dry leasing also accelerates wear, maintenance cycles, and long-term depreciation.

In this episode of The Preflight Checklist, we explain how dry leasing works, how it differs from charter operations, and why it is best understood as a cost-management strategy rather than a profit model. Understanding these tradeoffs helps owners evaluate whether dry leasing truly supports their mission and ownership goals.